Follies, Binns and Bulbs

[Scots_Charles_River]

First off, practice the use of the macro setting on my new camera, in the garden.

Heather

This flower has been flowering since early jan, in shade !

Started at Avondale Folly, cracking view north to the Crianlarich/Ben More hills and east to Dunbar. Me two Geocachers who were repacking a cache.

Old gun emplacements/watch building

The Folly, restored.

Nearby, is this an Osprey area ??

Then moved onto Beecraigs, Deer farm and trout farm. Lots of Bulbs uprooted by rabbits or Badgers. The sign has ben removed after I referred it to the Access officers under the SOAC. Just one more sign to get removed.

A woodpecker has been busy ?

The name of these wee fungi ?

What is this bird ? Weird feet.

Then finally to the House of the Binns, the seat of the Dalyells (dee-ells). Plenty of history and snowdrops, but the Peacock would not stand or display for me.

 

[Toddy]

The macro heather and the like are stunning beautiful

the birdie is a moorhen
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/moorhen/index.asp

Not good eating, my Dad tried, my Granny told him, but no, he wouldnae listen. It tastes of mud apparantly

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

The macro heather and the like are stunning beautiful

the birdie is a moorhen
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/moorhen/index.asp

Not good eating, my Dad tried, my Granny told him, but no, he wouldnae listen. It tastes of mud apparantly

cheers,
Toddy

Thanks for the comments. It's a cheap camera, £112, mainly for panoramics. You ned to hold it 10cm> away then carefully prefocus. The heather ws my 8th shot at heather.

Moorhen - aw right, it was hanging about the trout pools. I saw a few in the water nex to the geese, they looked tiny. So the feet must be for digging/scrapping ?

Nick

 

[Barn Owl]

Moorhen feet are lobed and big to allow it to spread its weight over water vegetation.
They've got talons for fighting and they often do so to severe injury or death with other moorhens.
Nests are of vegetation,near water,sometimes on ground,sometimes a few feet up or even out on a limb.
They try and cover it with longer plants nearby.

Tom.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Tom,

Thanks for the info, thought they must have a specific purpose as they look out of proportion. They were dotted about solo.

Nick